Improvement in detonating railway-signals



s; DETWILLER. DETONATING RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

mime-a Nov. 16, 1875.

HENRY J. DETWILL-ER, 0F BETHLEHEM, nssrenon TO HERMAN A. Dos'rERANDVOHARLES ROEPPER, OF SAME PLACE, AND WILLIAM J. TAYLOR,

0F oH 's'rEE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN'DETONATENG RAlLwAv s'lGALs Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No; 749,667, dated November 16, 1875; application filed-August 25, 1875.

' act description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the artto which it pertains. to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. I

V The device is for use upon railway-rails for signaling trains underway by detonating explosion in. cases of obstruction upon the track inadvance; and also for giving notice to the engineer on heavyfreight-trains, when stopping upon long curves, that the train is intactwhen moving ofi', a torpedo being placed in such case to be passed overonly by the rear car-wheels. Various devices for this purpose have beenused and held in position upon the rail by arms, so that the wheels ofthe engine or rear car will pass over it and effect, by concussion, theexplosion of the detonating-torpedo. The detonating element has beenhermetically sealed in a glass vessel, and pro tected by a metalliccasing, making in efl'ect two'cases. I

My object is to not only reduce the expense of the device to a minimum,but to increase its effectiveness. p

-In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in perspectiveof my improved railroad-torpedo; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-section of thesame; and Fig. 3, a similar view of the cap, showing the cavity thereof,sealed by a thin bottom film.

A base and a cap-plate, wb, of sheet-iron are used, and the former hasarms 0, by which to secure the device in place by clasping over the topand within the side curves of the plates c b are placed together, andsecured When' this cavity' is filled the flat sides of the two bybending the side edges e of the cap over and beneath the two oppositeedges only of the base, thus making a simple fastening for the plates,and avoiding the use of rivets,

.paper, or other suitable material laid over the bottom of the cap I),so as to completely seal the contents of the cavity. In this positionthe sealing-film f is flush with the joining surfaces of the cap and itsbase, the cavity being raised from one side only of the cap, and therebybecomes a lining or partition to separate the cavity from the base, andthereby obtain the simplest form or device for hermetically sealing theexplosive compound. This sealing-film f is secured by cementing itsedges upon the surface of the cap, and when so cemented it keeps thecompound dry and free from contact with the base, so that in claspingthe cap in place there is no friction upon the compound, as the film ffroms a bearing bottom for the filled cavity.

This sealing-film constitutes an important and'advantageous element inthe torpedo, as by it the two metallic plates are separated by a thinglazed surface, and thereby prevents the grains of the compound when dryfrom working out between the plates, and in this respect insures greatersafety in handling the torpedo.

Its expense as a sealing device is comparatively nothing. It is itselfprotected and sealed by its position between the cap and the base, and,by such position is made secure.

Any suitable detonating compound may be employed. I claim- 1. In adetonating-signal or torpedo the combination, with the cavity d for thedeto- In testimony that claim the foregoing I noting compound, of a,sealing-bottom film, f, have aflixed my signature in presence of twotherefor, substantially as herein set forth. witnesses.

. 2. The combination with the base and cap 1 plates a b of arailroad-torpedo, of a lining or HENRY DETWILLER' sealing partition, f,interposed between them, Witnesses: and protected in the manner and forthe pur- A. E. H. JOHNSON, 1 pose herein set forth. J. W. HAMILTONJomrsoN.

